Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 507

duncan_idaho · 10:01 AM

Proposed 2013 Slogan: Tigers: They're what's for dinner
Actual 2013 Slogan: Come to Play
A better, more accurate, or alternative slogan: All in, no panic, we promise.

Dayton Moore has pushed all his chips in and is riding on King/Jack suited, hoping it comes together, he gets some good luck, and he hits the nuts by the river card. There's potential, oh yes, there's potential. There's also risk.

At the midway point, Dayton is left counting on the river card. The flop and turn didn't help him, and he's looking at the Tigers holding a pair of Queens and the Indians holding a pair of 9s. His 2013 plan hasn't failed - yet - but the odds are not in his favor.

Burning questions updates below.

Burning Questions for 2013:

1) Will the improve rotation be improved enough? Does James Shields pitch like a fringe No. 1 away from Tampa Bay? Does Ervin Santana pitch to his highest upside in his walk year? Can Jeremy Guthrie build on his strong performance as a Royal in 2012? Can Wade Davis bring his new mentality- and velocity - back to the rotation?

Midseason check-in: Yes, the rotation is certainly improved enough. Shields has pitched like a fringe No. 1 and Santana is having his best season. Guthrie has horrible peripherals but has continued to perform well at his home park and eat innings on the road. Davis brought neither his kick-ass mentality or improved velocity back to the rotation and is in Luke Hochevar/Hiram Davies territory.

2) When will Luke Hochevar be shown the door?
Midseason check-in: It appears, never, at this point. Hochevar has been solid in non-leverage situations, though pretty much every time he has been used with men on base in an inning, it has been a disaster.

3) Does Hosmer bounce back?
Midseason check-in: It took some time, but Hosmer's performance from June 1 on is probably the most encouraging thing about the 2013 season so far.
4) Can Moustakas hit for a whole season like he did in the first half of 2012?
Midseason check-in: Nope. Moustakas was god-awful, then great for about 3 weeks, then god-awful again. He has been better since he started working with Brett and Grafol but still has a long way to go.
5) Who regresses?
Midseason check-in: Welp, Alicides Escobar is not a surprising name here (though Yost's stubborn insistence on hitting him second is ridiculous). Billy Butler is a surprise. He isn't having a terrible year - still contributing a lot to the offense - but he's not hitting for the average or power he has displayed over the past several years.
6) Who plays 2B?
Midseason check-in: A whole bunch of people, and not that great. Gio is at least getting a shot, though he once again is not doing much with it.
7) Can Jeff Francoeur be at least replacement level, rather than epic horrible level?
Midseason check-in: Hahahahahahahahahahaha
8) Will Dayton Moore survive to see 2014?
Midseason check-in: Outlook uncertain. Probably still around, unless the team completely tanks in the second half and he does something foolish. My guess - he sacrifices Ned Yost this offseason and gets one more shot with a new manager in 2014.
9) Will Danny Duffy come back healthy? And if he does, is he the same, better or worse?
Midseason check-in: Yes. Velocity looks the same, and it looks likely he is the same guy as before.
10) And the big one: Has KC added enough to run down the big-money Detroit Tigers?
Midseason check-in: Doesn't look like it, does it?

siberian khatru · 07-25-2013, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

NW Arkansas Naturals ‏@nwanaturals
Kyle Zimmer with 9 Ks through 4 innings has retired 7 in a row, thrown only 54 pitches (43 strikes) and not had a ball hit out of infield

11 K, 1 BB, 0 R through 5 on 77 pitches for Zimmer

WhawhaWhat · 07-25-2013, 08:06 PM

NW Arkansas Naturals ‏@nwanaturals
Zimmer strands two more getting his 12th strikeout to end the 6th...Naturals up 2-0

**DeezNutz** · 07-25-2013, 08:17 PM

Kind of have to wonder if he's a candidate to jump AAA, especially as a college arm.

58kcfan89 · 07-25-2013, 08:33 PM

Random thought I had today, hope someone with more knowledge than me can answer:

Isn't Dayton's contract supposed to run out after the 2014 season? So is baseball like football in the sense that most managers/GMs don't hit their "lame duck year" without getting either extended or fired? If so, should we expect any action on Dayton after this season or does Glasshole care enough to do anything?

Just trying to find a way that we can get out of this no man's land we're currently in. Not good enough to contend, not bad enough to blow it up...

**alnorth** · 07-25-2013, 09:08 PM

... and KC wins while Detroit loses. The Royals are now 7 games back, far enough so their chances are not great, but not so far in July to where you should give up. The purgatory continues...

CaliforniaChief · 07-25-2013, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

... and KC wins while Detroit loses. The Royals are now 7 games back, far enough so their chances are not great, but not so far in July to where you should give up. The purgatory continues...

We'll see where we are after these next 6 games. I would think that if we aren't within 5 after the Twins series, it would be a disappointment.

tk13 · 07-25-2013, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

... and KC wins while Detroit loses. The Royals are now 7 games back, far enough so their chances are not great, but not so far in July to where you should give up. The purgatory continues...

It's a brutal position. The odds really aren't in their favor, but I'd guess a large portion of the ticket-buying fan base will think same old cheap Glass if they sell sitting near .500 at the beginning of August, and still having a ton of games against the teams ahead of us.

**alnorth** · 07-25-2013, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

It's a brutal position. The odds really aren't in their favor, but I'd guess a large portion of the ticket-buying fan base will think same old cheap Glass if they sell sitting near .500 at the beginning of August, and still having a ton of games against the teams ahead of us.

yep, it truly is a brutal position. You don't even have to dig up miracle Disney stories, we are JUST CLOSE enough to where you can find several examples just in the last decade where the fans would go "But but but, the 20XX (teamnames) came back from that much!"

The Royals probably should give up, but they can't. We have done JUST BARELY ENOUGH so that giving up right now would be a disaster. Even as a logical baseball fan who would probably be fine with it, even I can feel it. I honestly, truly do not want to trade Santana. I just do not want to do it, even though I know we should...

KevB · 07-25-2013, 10:27 PM

Rany Jazayerli ‏@jazayerli 37s
Tell me more. MT @Steven_Davis3 Pretty sure I just witnessed the best stuff/pitching in my 9 years of minor league baseball. #Zimmer

Sure-Oz · 07-25-2013, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevB

Rany Jazayerli ‏@jazayerli 37s
Tell me more. MT @Steven_Davis3 Pretty sure I just witnessed the best stuff/pitching in my 9 years of minor league baseball. #Zimmer

Dude is coming on now...Keith Law seems to love him

Pitt Gorilla · 07-25-2013, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

yep, it truly is a brutal position. You don't even have to dig up miracle Disney stories, we are JUST CLOSE enough to where you can find several examples just in the last decade where the fans would go "But but but, the 20XX (teamnames) came back from that much!"

The Royals probably should give up, but they can't. We have done JUST BARELY ENOUGH so that giving up right now would be a disaster. Even as a logical baseball fan who would probably be fine with it, even I can feel it. I honestly, truly do not want to trade Santana. I just do not want to do it, even though I know we should...

Given the pick we'd likely get for him after the season, I'm not sure I'd deal him either. Of course, if they get blown away with an offer...

mr. tegu · 07-25-2013, 11:08 PM

They will make a feel good, underdogs, comeback miracle movie about this season after the things we do these next three months.

It's got it all. The star player finally figuring it out. The magic sauce. The legend returning. The rookie nobody really wanted at first because the rookie we really wanted got traded. The absolute low point in the season where no one was good for a month. Parting ways with the "nice" guy with a "nice" smile. The constant struggle of one run games. The script is writing itself. This move will have a better ending than Moneyball.

SPchief · 07-25-2013, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

yep, it truly is a brutal position. You don't even have to dig up miracle Disney stories, we are JUST CLOSE enough to where you can find several examples just in the last decade where the fans would go "But but but, the 20XX (teamnames) came back from that much!"

The Royals probably should give up, but they can't. We have done JUST BARELY ENOUGH so that giving up right now would be a disaster. Even as a logical baseball fan who would probably be fine with it, even I can feel it. I honestly, truly do not want to trade Santana. I just do not want to do it, even though I know we should...

1 week ago I would have agreed to trade off Santana and bring up Duffy. Now you can't bail out. Keep him, get the comp pick and hope the team goes on a run. Davies on the mound against Sale on Saturday could hopefully be his last straw. Bring up Duffy, put Daivies in the pen, hope and pray they can swindle someone to trade for Hoch. Give Zimmerman a few more weeks in AA and put him in Omaha. If he continues, he would be a great addition in September.

ChiefsCountry · 07-25-2013, 11:37 PM

Royals need to be buyers and sellers. Look for a blockbuster deal for any of our current players while trying to field a team that win the rest of the year, while building next year's squad. I know a bunch of you will piss and moan about it, but **** off we need some wins.

Mama Hip Rockets · 07-25-2013, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

They will make a feel good, underdogs, comeback miracle movie about this season after the things we do these next three months.

It's got it all. The star player finally figuring it out. The magic sauce. The legend returning. The rookie nobody really wanted at first because the rookie we really wanted got traded. The absolute low point in the season where no one was good for a month. Parting ways with the "nice" guy with a "nice" smile. The constant struggle of one run games. The script is writing itself. This move will have a better ending than Moneyball.

Haha.

That sounds really awesome, actually.

12-11-2012, 09:59 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-89692	2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread Proposed 2013 Slogan: Tigers: They're what's for dinner Actual 2013 Slogan: Come to Play A better, more accurate, or alternative slogan: All in, no panic, we promise. Dayton Moore has pushed all his chips in and is riding on King/Jack suited, hoping it comes together, he gets some good luck, and he hits the nuts by the river card. There's potential, oh yes, there's potential. There's also risk. At the midway point, Dayton is left counting on the river card. The flop and turn didn't help him, and he's looking at the Tigers holding a pair of Queens and the Indians holding a pair of 9s. His 2013 plan hasn't failed - yet - but the odds are not in his favor. Burning questions updates below. Burning Questions for 2013: 1) Will the improve rotation be improved enough? Does James Shields pitch like a fringe No. 1 away from Tampa Bay? Does Ervin Santana pitch to his highest upside in his walk year? Can Jeremy Guthrie build on his strong performance as a Royal in 2012? Can Wade Davis bring his new mentality- and velocity - back to the rotation? Midseason check-in: Yes, the rotation is certainly improved enough. Shields has pitched like a fringe No. 1 and Santana is having his best season. Guthrie has horrible peripherals but has continued to perform well at his home park and eat innings on the road. Davis brought neither his kick-ass mentality or improved velocity back to the rotation and is in Luke Hochevar/Hiram Davies territory. 2) When will Luke Hochevar be shown the door? Midseason check-in: It appears, never, at this point. Hochevar has been solid in non-leverage situations, though pretty much every time he has been used with men on base in an inning, it has been a disaster. 3) Does Hosmer bounce back? Midseason check-in: It took some time, but Hosmer's performance from June 1 on is probably the most encouraging thing about the 2013 season so far. 4) Can Moustakas hit for a whole season like he did in the first half of 2012? Midseason check-in: Nope. Moustakas was god-awful, then great for about 3 weeks, then god-awful again. He has been better since he started working with Brett and Grafol but still has a long way to go. 5) Who regresses? Midseason check-in: Welp, Alicides Escobar is not a surprising name here (though Yost's stubborn insistence on hitting him second is ridiculous). Billy Butler is a surprise. He isn't having a terrible year - still contributing a lot to the offense - but he's not hitting for the average or power he has displayed over the past several years. 6) Who plays 2B? Midseason check-in: A whole bunch of people, and not that great. Gio is at least getting a shot, though he once again is not doing much with it. 7) Can Jeff Francoeur be at least replacement level, rather than epic horrible level? Midseason check-in: Hahahahahahahahahahaha 8) Will Dayton Moore survive to see 2014? Midseason check-in: Outlook uncertain. Probably still around, unless the team completely tanks in the second half and he does something foolish. My guess - he sacrifices Ned Yost this offseason and gets one more shot with a new manager in 2014. 9) Will Danny Duffy come back healthy? And if he does, is he the same, better or worse? Midseason check-in: Yes. Velocity looks the same, and it looks likely he is the same guy as before. 10) And the big one: Has KC added enough to run down the big-money Detroit Tigers? Midseason check-in: Doesn't look like it, does it? Last edited by duncan_idaho; 07-15-2013 at 10:01 AM..
Posts: 21,493

07-25-2013, 08:06 PM	#7592
WhawhaWhat MVP Join Date: Feb 2013 Casino cash: $-278884	NW Arkansas Naturals ‏@nwanaturals Zimmer strands two more getting his 12th strikeout to end the 6th...Naturals up 2-0
Posts: 18,519

07-25-2013, 08:33 PM	#7594
58kcfan89 Veteran Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10003187	Random thought I had today, hope someone with more knowledge than me can answer: Isn't Dayton's contract supposed to run out after the 2014 season? So is baseball like football in the sense that most managers/GMs don't hit their "lame duck year" without getting either extended or fired? If so, should we expect any action on Dayton after this season or does Glasshole care enough to do anything? Just trying to find a way that we can get out of this no man's land we're currently in. Not good enough to contend, not bad enough to blow it up...
Posts: 2,252

07-25-2013, 09:08 PM	#7595
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57156239	... and KC wins while Detroit loses. The Royals are now 7 games back, far enough so their chances are not great, but not so far in July to where you should give up. The purgatory continues... __________________ how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb? HOW MANY?! none they just sit in the dark and cry
Posts: 36,130

07-25-2013, 10:27 PM	#7599
KevB Agree to Disagree Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: The State of Euphoria Casino cash: $10026612	Rany Jazayerli ‏@jazayerli 37s Tell me more. MT @Steven_Davis3 Pretty sure I just witnessed the best stuff/pitching in my 9 years of minor league baseball. #Zimmer
Posts: 14,446

07-25-2013, 11:08 PM	#7602
mr. tegu Forever Royal Join Date: Mar 2012 Casino cash: $131300	They will make a feel good, underdogs, comeback miracle movie about this season after the things we do these next three months. It's got it all. The star player finally figuring it out. The magic sauce. The legend returning. The rookie nobody really wanted at first because the rookie we really wanted got traded. The absolute low point in the season where no one was good for a month. Parting ways with the "nice" guy with a "nice" smile. The constant struggle of one run games. The script is writing itself. This move will have a better ending than Moneyball.
Posts: 25,167

07-25-2013, 11:37 PM	#7604
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $458752	Royals need to be buyers and sellers. Look for a blockbuster deal for any of our current players while trying to field a team that win the rest of the year, while building next year's squad. I know a bunch of you will piss and moan about it, but **** off we need some wins.
Posts: 51,018